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Thursday, November 29, 2012

118) Learn Lessons - Making sense of God

"And be sure, in joys or trials, God is there!" Cleo King.

A cynic, sitting under a huge nut-bearing tree, holds a monologue with God: Such a huge tree has such small nuts and a slender creeper bears a huge water melon. Is that not disproportionate, he asks God? Just as he concludes his question, a nut from the tree falls on his head. The cynic, in relief, says: "Thank God that was not a water melon".

There is profound wisdom in the ways of God. What seems senseless to us now, turns out to be full of sense in the long run (thankfully the cynic did not have to wait for long to find out). In our finite intelligence we are not able to comprehend Infinite wisdom, just as we cannot empty the ocean with our cupped hands. A five-year-old cannot understand atomic physics, but the fact that he does not understand it, does not make it a lie. Unless we come to terms with our limitations, we will at opposite ends with God. Such thinking that we needlessly adopt does harm to our children. They have to look up to God and find in Him a loving Father who cares for them even when things don't seem to go right. There is a purpose in what happens and the truth will be revealed to us in time. That confidence the child should have - which can be given only by us. When we fail to instil in the child faith in God and an abiding love for him, we fail in one of our basic duties.

Cleo king's assurance should be the staff to lead us and our children on our way.

The Author

Quotes on Parenting

"What gift has Providence bestowed on man that is so dear to him as his children?" Cicero.

"Dads don't need to be tall and broad-shouldered and handsome and clever.Love makes them so." Pam Brown.

"The best combination of parents consists of a father who is gentle beneath his firmness,and a mother who is firm beneath her gentleness." Sydney Harris.

Extracts from a Prayer of General MacArthur

Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat; humble and gentle in victory. Build me a son who will know thee and know that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.Let him learn to stand up in a storm; here let him know compassion for those who fall. Let him master himself before he seeks to master other men. Let him reach into the future, yet never forget the past. Let him always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness; the open mind of true wisdom and the meekness of true strength. Then I his father willdare to whisper: 'I have not lived in vain'.

Extracts from Abraham Lincoln's letter to his son's teacher

He will have to learn that all men are not just; all men are not true. But teach him that for every enemy, there is a friend. Let him learn early that bullies are the easiest to lick. Teach him that it is far more honourable to fail, than to cheat. Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to the highest bidder, but never put a price tag on his heart and soul. Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself.

"On Bringing Up Children"

" Your children are not your children.They are sons and daughters of life's longing for itself.And it is your awesome responsibility to pass the torch of civilization to them.Teach them to think. To wonder. To dream. To meet triumph and disaster equally. Teach them the difference between flattery and praise. Teach them the joy of a sunset. The joy of sharing. The joy of discovering the unknown.More than anything else teach them to WALK TALL"-Khalil Gibran